Pleasant Valley coach Terwilliger sees good things coming in 2012

It's hard to believe how far Pleasant Valley has come in the past three seasons. When Jim Terwilliger took over in the spring of 2009, the Bears had won just eight games total in the previous four years.

BRODHEADSVILLE — It's hard to believe how far Pleasant Valley has come in the past three seasons.

When Jim Terwilliger took over in the spring of 2009, the Bears had won just eight games total in the previous four years.

Fast forward to 2012 and Pleasant Valley has won 23 games, highlighted by a shared Mountain Valley Conference title in 2010.

This year's senior class has been with Terwilliger the entire way and their attitudes have the Bears expecting big things this season.

"This group of guys is the most empowered group that we've had and it comes from setting the foundation from years before," said Terwilliger, who is 23-18 in his first three years. "What it comes down to is you prepare, you buy into what you're doing in the offseason, you believe in how you practice, how you play and how you do things and our kids have really done that. The idea to winning championships is if you play like a champion, practice like a champion and live like a champion you'll have a good opportunity at being a champion.

"We're working toward that and it's certainly one of our expectations. These guys haven't faltered on that."

To do that in 2012, the Bears must find a way to replace do-it-all running back Rob Getz.

Getz left PV with his name all over the school's record books including most rushing touchdowns (36), most receptions (104), most receiving yards (1,260) and single-season receptions (46 as a junior). Last year, Getz ran for 1,081 yards and five touchdowns, caught 28 passes for 404 yards and five scores and also returned three kickoffs and a punt for touchdowns.

"As cliché as it sounds, there is no replacing Rob Getz," Terwilliger said. "That kid was something else. You look around and see what he had done over a career both offensively, defensively and the special teams, you can't replace somebody like that. What we have coming up is a group of guys who can do it in a number of different areas."

Senior Josh Perry and freshman Austyn Borre have had good preseasons in the backfield, but while they find their ways PV can lean on an experienced quarterback.

Brandon Leap played well last season after missing the opening five games with a broken left hand. The junior threw for 661 yards and four touchdowns, including a 271-yard, 4-touchdown performance in his first start.

"The experience always helps," Leap said. "It gets your head straight and it makes you more cool, calm and collected."

Sekou Jones (19 catches, 259 yards and 3 TDs) returns on the outside, while tight end Dakota Everett should see more passes come his way this fall.

On defense, Everett is back for his third year as a starter. He'll play middle linebacker with Josh Thornton and Jones on the outside. Junior defensive end Marquis Brown showed flashes last year of being a special player.

"We're really coming together," Everett said. "We've got a lot guys stepping up. We're not the biggest, but we're not the smallest. I'll tell you that we're going to be putting up a fight against anyone."